Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-01-27

lAnAieiNtSd 0Db1S ShA9 tAt1S-
Dover. Jan. 49, Since Al. Robinson's
visit of week before last there has been
| lit.k. said helu ABOUT constitutional re.
form until the introduction, by Senator
Ferguson of Appoquinimink, this after
noon, of the initial constitutional amend
ment measure Of the session. Mr.. Fer
guson's bill may, perhaps, be most fairly
| and satisfactorily described in his own
words with which he accompanied its in
PRODUCTION MIR. Ferguson said
Nm Speaker-pursuant to previous notice
| | rise to Introduce bill titled An act
proposing amendments to the constitution
| for the purpose OF increasing the number OF
| senators and representatives In the denerai
| Assembly.
Before ii is read wish to make few re-
marks explanatory Of its scope aud pur-
pose.
The bin proposes to give an increase Of
| five representatives and one senator TO New
/ Castle county.
II the amendments proposed in 1t should
become part of our State constitution New
/ Castle county will have iour senators and
| twelve representatives and Kentnnd Sussex
| will each have four senators and seven rep
| resentativrs, making senate OF twelve and
q hdAse OF representatives OF 20 members.
The proposed amendments will, there
fore change the rule of equal county repre-
seutation III the House, while they will pre-
serve 1t In the Senate. They will also en-
power the General Assembly, by two
thirds vote of each branch, TO make pro-
vision by law for the election by districts
In any one or more of the counties OF the
State, as 1t may deem proper, Of the sena-
tors and represA natives to be chosen under
the constitution and amended by this bill.
1t Is anticipated that this two-thiids vote
will prove q conservative and sate mode OF
introducing the district system, and wise
and adequate precaution against the nasty
and corrupt methods OF gerry Wandering
prevailing elsewhere, and the possible in
: PRODUCTION Of which In this State has
hitherto been an lnseparable objection to
i the adoption Of the district system In Della
. ware.
This provision will also enable the Legis.
lature, immediately upon the ratification Oh
these amendments at its next session, &c
assign to Wilmington her quota OF senators
and representatives and to prescribe thai
they shall be elected exclusively by her OWL
cltizens
/, II will be observed that the Introduction
! OF this bill implies that the adoption OF thu
legislative mode of constitutional amend
ment Is preferable to the conventional plaI
at present.
4 1t Is believed by those who have for year
n past consistently advocated, and jealousy
4 and faithfully labored for fair and reason
a able increase or representation Tor New
I. Castle county, that this desirable object i
v OF more feasible, certain and speedy attain
i ment by legislative amendment than by
4 constitutional convention.
a Among all the constitutional reforms We
a suggested a fair and reasonable Increase o
= representation for New Castle county Is o
n the most urgent and paramount import
h anee. Upon the merits of the cause
d transcends and oversbadows all others, be
|. cause 1t alone relates to q remedy for tn
il virtual Acknowledgement of q large portiol
n OF the people Of the most wealthy and pop
" ulous section of our State. Its cause should
n therefore, be heard and tried upon It
Ia own separate merits, unhampered and IN
handicapped by its connection with othe
proposed constitutional changes in favor Q
which there are far less urgent necessit
"A and argument and against which there ar
N far more objections and diversity Of opinion
q, By simple legislative amendment re
8 strlcted solely to the cause of an increase Q
representation, this desirable object ca
be surely attained, while by theeonVentionf
plan this ls manifestly impossible.
ID In a constitutional convention all sorts {
rs men with all kinds Of reform ideas, hobbie
y and cranky notions will abound. The goo
will probably be overweighted by the baC
=, the practical by the visionary, and the wis
or measures of the dislnterested reformer b
a the selfish schemes Of the ambitious polit
clan. And, therefore, especially In th